I was looking through the FIRST resources page and stumbled upon this page for a new key volunteer position. Could this possibly mean that there will be less automated scoring in 2019 in reaction to some of the errors in field scoring in the last 2 seasons? https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/frc/official-scorer
Official Scorer
Nov. 14 2018| 0 KB
Content Type: Volunteer
Program: FIRST Robotics Competition
Tags: Volunteer
The Official Scorer for FIRST Robotics Competition is a Key Volunteer position for the 2019 game, DESTINATION: DEEP SPACE. Official Scorers observe matches, count game pieces, and input scores. Work under the direction of the Head Referee. This role is physically active role positioned on the perimeter of the playing field.
*Must sign a Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement prior to start of service.
Responsibilities
Contribute to a positive and fair competition environment for all participants
Monitor/promote safe practices on and around the playing field - lead by example
Wear safety glasses when in the arena
Count game pieces as they are scored to help provide real time scoring during the match
Once each match is complete, the Official Scorekeeper must do a final count of game pieces
Display Gracious Professionalism at all times, even in stressful situations
Experience and Skills Needed
Must be post-high school or equivalent (minimum age of 19 at time of service)
Exceptions may be granted by event Volunteer Coordinators after review and approval by FIRST Headquarters FIRST experience is desired but not required
Ability to collaborate with others, work as a member of a team
Approachable personality; high energy
Strong communication, diplomacy skills and an eye for detail
Ability to “take charge”; be assertive, but tactful
Ability to move about the field and stand for long periods of time
Volunteer Time Commitment
Minimum 2 full day commitment (Districts)
Minimum 3 full day commitment (Regionals)
Note: Event schedules vary. Please check the event schedule and talk to your Volunteer Coordinator for detailed information on when you are expected to arrive. Volunteers should arrive on site 15-20 minutes prior to the start of every shift to allow time to check in at the Volunteer Registration table.
Training
Training will be conducted on-site by the Head Referee.
Reporting Relationships and Supervision
Direct supervision: Head Referee
On-site guidance: Volunteer Coordinator
Must read and comply with the FIRST Volunteer Rights & Responsibilities
They’ve had scorers before, especially in 2015–they’ve also had Referees doing scoring before then (and after then). The requirements look similar to the requirements for a Referee at first glance.
I suspect less automation, or trying to put more eyes on the field. Could be both.
A few minor hiccups aside, automated scoring was very successful for Power Up in my opinion. I believe if FRC Engineering wasn’t satisfied with the reliability of automated scoring, they would work to make those systems more robust, rather than revert back to ‘human scoring,’ which leads me to believe this position was added not due to lack of confidence, but rather lack of possiblity for automated scoring within one or all aspects of the game.
Couple of quick thoughts. It’s a volunteer position. By not being key, it means they get to sleep in and skip the key volunteer meeting. Don’t you wish that early alarm evil on them!
Second, I sincerely doubt “errors in field scoring” have anything to do with this. I’d challenge you to visually measure the time a ball goes into a pipe with accuracy. Or, to count the correct number of seconds a seesaw is 3" or more away from it’s starting position (or really, the correct number of seconds for anything more than 5 with consistency).
It’s unlikely anyone said “these things weren’t always perfect. Let’s add the mississippi count to it! That’ll make it better.”
Read again, I believe it mentions that its a key volunteer position.
I agree that the few glitches of infield scoring the last 2 years were very rare and don’t merit completely ditching automated scoring, especially in the difficult to judges cases you mentioned. It is more likely that the scoring method in 2019 is more conducive to manual scoring.
Interesting. I was thinking the tags are where they usually mention the key volunteer piece.
It’d be strange they’d want the group of counters to show up to that super early meeting but not the referees (given it seems they’re meant to work together, report to the HR, and help facilitate scoring of the game).
Non-head referees and Non-Lead Robot Inspectors are also listed as being a “key volunteer” in the official descriptions. I think the term “key volunteer” has expanded a bit, to include many roles that require some level of training and are key to the success of the event, but don’t necessarily require “managing others” and going to the early morning “key volunteers meeting”.
The “Official Scorer” position was first introduced in 2005 when multiple HP Ipaq’s were used to do real time scoring of the tetras stacked and placed, and rows created and lost. This position has come and gone depending on the game and most recently was merged with the ref position over the past couple years inputting the scores and ‘achievements’ during the match. It is considered a “Key Volunteer Role” because the position can have a direct impact on the results of the event.
Definitely in favor of having a dedicated scorer (or multiple). There have been cases in previous games where referees are overwhelmed with both scoring and looking out for rules violations. The outcome is that they do poorly with both. A couple good examples are 2014 (referees missing penalties while inputting assists) and 2016 (it was not unusual for crossings to be missed, even in key matches late in the season). Good move to avoid such problems!
Hmm, the last time we had a space-related game we had scorers. They were supposed to count the game pieces as they were belched out of the robot and into the trailers. “Let’s see, I think that was 17 … or maybe 23 … no, it must have been 19.”
Also keep in mind that it could also be many game pieces with an insufficient or unsafe way to count them.
Consider the Boiler in 2017. That thing was literally a deathtrap inside while it was running. Also, it wasn’t always the most efficient. Especially since it took some time to process the number of balls that went inside.
Since this new position will do a “final count” it is entirely possible that there will many game pieces. But we will not know for sure until the game is released.
